Wednesday, August 19, 2009

There are two types of lawyers: Those that have a reputation, and those that try to create a reputation.

As many of the readers here are law students or recent admits to the Bar, I ask you - will you earn your reputation through the good and bad that you do, or will you simply use the internet, yellow pages, TV, and mailers to pretend that you are a good lawyer?

In this economy, there are lawyers surviving on their reputation, and those creating a false reputation in order to survive.

So yesterday my brothers and sisters who toil daily in Houston's criminal courts, took Andy Nolen to task.

Andy Nolen is a Houston Criminal Defense "Lawyer" with a huge internet presence. According to those who are well known and respected in Houston, his courthouse presence is not as "big."

Recently, a discovery was made that on a Yahoo.com review page, every Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer was trashed by "someone" named "Jerry K," and Andy was lauded. That review page now appears to be empty.

"And what does it say about your sense of ethics? You don't seem to think it's a problem to have someone post fake "reviews" about other attorneys. Is there any line you won't cross? Is there any conduct that makes you cringe?"

"By engaging in this kind of “despicable” behavior, Nolen has violated a fundamental ethical responsibility that requires every attorney must maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. This ethical responsibility exists not only when an attorney is dealing with his/her client or the general public but also in his relationship with others members of the bar."

Or the Immediate Past President of the Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Mark Bennett who sums up this charade as any leader of the criminal defense bar would: